Diane Scalese – In 1986, she and her husband started Sweetwater Silver in Montana and began making spurs, bridle bits and other silver gear. Becoming interested in hand engraving, she began practicing and searching for mentors, but no one wanted to teach her, partly because she was female. Nevertheless, Scalese went on to become a master engraver and held the title of Engraver of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists in 2003. Her engraving style is traditional Western bright cut, but she adds techniques such as bulino, flare cut and many firearms engraving styles for a result that is both traditional and fresh. Her work has appeared in books and been exhibited in art shows and museums throughout the American West and Canada. She served on the board of the Firearms Engravers Guild of America and was selected by the Montana Arts Council to be a member of the Montana Circle of American Masters. She holds Master Engraver status in both the Firearms Engravers Guild of America and the Custom Gunmakers Guild of America. She is determined to open the field to anyone who wants to learn and teaches classes all over the world, including Belgium, Germany, Italy and Denmark.
